Climate Change Data

LaDress

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2018, 2020)

Reporting Period: 2018

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Responsible supply chain
  • Sustainable products
  • Empowered people

Environmental Achievements

  • Italian Jersey Lycra produced in an eco-compatible way with energy saving, waste reduction and pollution abatement; PEF certified, OEKO-TEX and ISO 14001 certified, and has an "advanced" status with 4sustainability Chemical Management Protocol.
  • Continuously looking for new eco-friendly fabrics.
  • Switching to fully recycled polyester and recycled paper for all brand labels and hangtags.

Social Achievements

  • Member of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) since 2014, adhering to their Code of Labor Practices.
  • Support for the 'Because I am a Girl' campaign and Clothing4u.
  • Addressing excessive overtime through outsourcing and improved order distribution.

Governance Achievements

  • Signed the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile (AGT) in 2016.
  • Developed a sourcing manual and supplier manual with social compliance chapters.
  • Implemented a grievance procedure with FWF Worker Information Sheet.

Climate Goals & Targets

Short-term Goals:
  • By 2020, gain insight into at least 80% of the supply chain regarding wages paid and investigate if buying prices are sufficient to provide a living wage.

Environmental Challenges

  • Difficulty meeting all FWF requirements in 2018 due to personnel changes and limited resources.
  • Excessive overtime in 2016 due to a change in LaDress's buying strategy.
  • Wage gap between minimum wage and living wage in production countries.
  • Risks related to workplace safety and health, discrimination and gender, freedom of association, and excessive overtime.
  • Risks associated with the use of raw materials, water pollution, and the use of chemicals, water, and energy in the production of substances.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Developed an action plan to address 2018 FWF issues and work with FWF on improvement.
  • Outsourcing part of the activities to an external party to reduce workload and improve order distribution.
  • Investing in knowledge about living wage, attending workshops, and consulting stakeholders.
  • Developing a long-term strategy to tackle the living wage issue.
  • Implementing FWF Health & Safety Checklist, analyzing CAPs from audit reports, and discussing improvements with production locations.
  • Analyzing the division between male and female employees and wages through FWF questionnaires and audits.
  • Implementing FWF Worker Information Sheet and Workplace Education Program.
  • Addressing excessive overtime risk in Portugal through audits and risk analysis.
  • Seeking more sustainable alternatives to raw materials and switching to more sustainable raw materials such as recycled raw materials.
  • Using a Restricted Substances List (RSL) in accordance with REACH standards.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Sourcing exclusively from European suppliers and agencies.
  • Using a Restricted Substances List (RSL) in accordance with REACH standards.
  • Selecting ateliers based on authenticity, workmanship, expertise, and quality.
  • Requiring information about working conditions and CSR policy from new production locations.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Fair Wear Foundation (FWF), Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile (AGT)

Certifications: PEF, OEKO-TEX, ISO 14001

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Italian Jersey Lycra

Reporting Period: 2020

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • People
  • Planet

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced online returns percentage by >10% in 2020 compared to 2019.
  • Switched to eco-friendly shipping materials since 2019.
  • Started using envelopes for small packages instead of boxes in 2020, reducing air transportation.
  • Significant waste reduction due to cooperation with a new fulfillment partner in September 2020.
  • Reduced cutting loss of fabric through efficient pattern layout (examples given: 21.7% reduction for Caroline and Siena, 28.3% for Caroline, 32.9% for Margaux and London).

Social Achievements

  • Maintained orders at the main production location during the COVID-19 crisis, reducing redundancy risks.
  • Improved worker safety at the main production location based on audit report recommendations.
  • Strengthened and clarified CSR policy and integrated due diligence process.
  • Regular contact with Modint for knowledge sharing with agents and production locations.
  • Expanded supplier manual with more social compliance chapters.
  • All action points from the 2019 audit report on worker health and safety were addressed (except for two minor points).

Governance Achievements

  • Updated Restricted Substances List (RSL) in 2020 and received supplier confirmation.
  • Signed the Fur-free declaration of ‘Bont voor Dieren’ and added to their Fur-free list.
  • Added to PETA's list of pet-friendly brands.

Climate Goals & Targets

Short-term Goals:
  • Increase CSR transparency by providing customers with simple and factual information on how products are made (website and newsletter updates).
  • Gain more insight into the production chain of fabric suppliers.
  • Agree with the main production location in Romania on updating 2019 audit information.
  • Implement a user-friendly tool for monitoring due diligence.

Environmental Challenges

  • Limited impact on most production locations and governmental policies as an independent small brand.
  • Limited resources to constantly study and understand all industry risks.
  • Lack of complete knowledge and visibility in the supply chain.
  • High risk of discrimination and gender inequality in Pakistan and China.
  • High risk of child labor in Pakistan.
  • High risk of forced labor in China.
  • Need for improved transparency and communication with stakeholders.
  • Cumbersome due diligence administration.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Working with a limited number of suppliers to maximize impact and build long-term relationships.
  • Preferably working with production locations in the European Union (97% in 2020).
  • Relying on agents and independent BSCI audit reports for production outside the EU.
  • Accessing specialized resources, including Modint's CSR department and the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile.
  • Using detailed return information from the data warehouse to minimize returns.
  • Using fabrics with stretch to improve fit and reduce returns.
  • Improving website information (photos, size table, product descriptions) to reduce returns.
  • Encouraging customer contact for size inquiries.
  • Requiring audit reports before ordering and sharing country risk information with agents.
  • Re-writing CSR policy and adding information to the website and newsletters.
  • Planning to share the Plan van Aanpak on the website.
  • Investigating the use of Tencel fabric.
  • Investigating the origin of leather and exploring vegan leather options.
  • Implementing a Workplace Education Programme (delayed from 2020-2021).

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: BSCI audits conducted at production locations in high-risk countries.

Responsible Procurement
  • Updated RSL (Restricted Substances List) in 2020.
  • Commitment to long-term relationships with suppliers.
  • Preference for EU-based suppliers.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, UNGPs